Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve, Nature reserve in Centro region, Portugal
Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve spans a large area between Penamacor and Sabugal, featuring varied Mediterranean woodland landscapes with seasonal water ponds. The terrain supports different habitats that provide homes for numerous plant and animal species.
The Portuguese government established this reserve in 1981 to protect the Iberian lynx and its natural habitat. The creation of this protected zone represented an important step in national conservation efforts.
Local communities around the reserve maintain traditional cork harvesting practices from the cork oak trees that grow throughout the area. This work shapes the landscape and remains part of daily life for people living nearby.
The site is accessible during daylight hours, with a main office in Penamacor and an environmental education center in Sabugal. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and prepare for changing weather conditions that can shift quickly across this hilly terrain.
The reserve is home to nests of black vultures, a rare species with impressive wing size. These birds depend on undisturbed landscapes like this one for their survival.
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Sabugal Castle
11.9 km
Castelo de Sortelha
17 km
Serra da Malcata Special Protection Area
948 m
Castle of Penamacor
14.2 km
Castle of Eljas
16.9 km
Aldeia de Santo António
12 km
Ponte da Ribeira de Meimoa
12.8 km
Pelourinho de Penamacor
14.3 km
Solar de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
16.8 km
Site of Community Importance Malcata
14.2 km
Pelourinho do Sabugal
12 km
Igreja e claustro do Convento de Santo António
14.7 km
Igreja Matriz de Vale da Senhora da Póvoa
14 km
Câmara Municipal e Cadeia Comarcã de Penamacor
14.6 km
Igreja Matriz da Meimoa
12.5 km
Igreja da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Penamacor
14.3 km
Igreja Paroquial de São Pedro
14.4 km
Torre do Relógio de Sortelha
17 km
Igreja Paroquial de Penamacor
14.4 km
Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
14.8 km
Sabugal Velho
15.7 km
Edifício da Câmara Municipal do Sabugal
11.9 km
Fonte de Mergulho em Sortelha
17.1 km
Capela de São João de Brito
12.8 km
Capela de São Domingos
14.3 km
Cruzeiro dos Centenários de Sabugal
11.9 km
Capela de São Domingos
12.7 km
Casa dos Britos
11.9 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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